Covering Harpenden
Alongside Harpenden, we also cover St Albans, Luton (5 miles to the north-west) and Hemel Hempstead.
Homes in the East of England
The East of England has a large stock of post-war and modern estate housing alongside period homes in market towns, which makes garage conversions, single-storey extensions and loft conversions popular.
What does a porch involve?
A porch is a small enclosed entrance built in front of the front door, giving somewhere for coats and shoes and a buffer against draughts. Many porches are small enough to be built without a planning application.
- Foundations and matching brickwork
- Tiled, slate or lead roof
- Front door and side window supply and fit
How much does a porch cost in Harpenden?
What porches typically cost. These are guide ranges; the written quote for your house replaces them.
| Porches | Guide price incl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Open canopy over the door | £2,500 to £5,000 |
| Brick porch with tiled roof | £6,000 to £10,000 |
| Larger porch or front extension | £10,000 to £16,000 |
Planning and building rules in Harpenden
Projects in England go through two separate checks. Planning (or confirmation that the work is permitted development) comes from the district, borough or unitary council, and building regulations approval comes from the council’s building control team or a registered building control approver. Where work touches a shared wall or digs near a neighbour’s foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies.
In England a porch is permitted development if its footprint is no more than 3 m² measured externally, no part is higher than 3 m, and no part is within 2 m of a boundary with a road or footpath. Larger porches need planning permission.
What can change the price or programme?
- Keeping the original front door between house and porch can keep a porch exempt from building regulations.
- Gas meters and drains near the front door may need relocating.
What happens after I enquire?
- Start with a conversation. A short call or the online form is enough for us to understand what you want to build.
- We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
- Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
- We build it. Work follows an agreed programme, with inspections at each stage and a final sign-off.
Your questions answered
Do I need planning permission for a porch?
Not in England if it is no bigger than 3 m², no higher than 3 m and at least 2 m from the boundary with a road.
Will the brick match?
We source the closest available match and agree it with you before building.
Who deals with the council for a project in Harpenden?
We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.
Also covering
Learn more about porches, or see every project we cover in Harpenden.